The proposal by Allen Buchanan and Robert Keohane to set up a Drone Accountability Regime (DAR) to help ensure better compliance with the existing law for lethal use of remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) is both welcome and timely. However, it is worth pointing out that using a drone as a component of a military operation does not automatically make that military action a “targeted killing.” Indeed, it is probable that much of the public concern and condemnation of drones is actually an objection to this type of attack, seen by many people as comparable to acts of assassination on foreign soil. Targeted killing is itself not a drone-specific concern, as such strikes can be carried out by missile, helicopter gunship, sniper, or a special forces team inserted into foreign territory. However, the perceived lower political cost of employing drones means that Buchanan and Keohane are particularly concerned about (1) their use in violation of sovereignty principles; (2) that they will be overused, creating an incentive to employ force as a first response instead of as a last resort; and (3) that they will be used to target civilian leaders and thus confuse, ignore, or undermine the distinction principle. The DAR is a response to these fears.
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Spring 2015 (29.1) • Internal
Toward a Drone Accountability Regime: A Rejoinder
We appreciate the fact that our proposal initiated a lively discussion of the characteristics of a Drone Accountability Regime, and of the international political and ...
Spring 2015 (29.1) • Essay
Accountability for Targeted Drone Strikes Against Terrorists?
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Spring 2015 (29.1) • Feature
Distant Intimacy: Space, Drones, and Just War
Critical engagement with the concept of space, rooted in political geography, augments established ethical critiques of drone strikes. As drone use grows, it is crucial ...